"Lawdamercyy!"
Several hours before this afternoon's tip-off against the Phoenix Mercury, Crystal Langhorne tweeted, "so phx decided to bring the hot a** weather with them...going to be 100 2day...lawdamercyyyy..."At the conclusion of the game, "lawdamercyyy" may have been on the lips of many in attendance -- including the Phoenix players and plenty of Mystics fans -- but we wouldn't have been referring to the heat outside. No, we would've been talking about the heat generated inside by Crystal, as she led her team to a blistering 95-85 win over the defending WNBA champions!
After a career high on Thursday (27) and a double-double, followed by a near-career performance on Friday (25) and another double-double, what could Lang possibly do today for an encore? Well, she could -- and did -- score 31 points (13 in the first quarter), a new career high, and she pulled down 10 boards for yet another double-double. Lawdamercyy!
The BCs watched Lang play for four years at Maryland and this is our third summer watching her play at the Verizon Center, yet Lang still finds ways to surprise and amaze us . . . as she did today. [Note to Donna O: If Lang isn't selected tomorrow as the WNBA Player of the Week, then we demand a recount!]
But as incredible as Lang's numbers were, you can't win against the high-octane Mercury without a total team effort. And that's exactly what the Mystics used to beat Phoenix and notch their 4th consecutive home victory. Lindsey Harding (who also continues to amaze us) added 24 points (just 3 points shy of her career best)! Meanwhile, Kia (12) and Mo (10) also finished in double figures. And Katie Smith, who (along with Matee) drew the assignment of trying to contain (the uncontainable) Diana Taurasi, chipped in 7 points plus 6 assists, while only committing 1 foul. In other words, all 5 starters contributed to today's win. (As for Taurasi, we certainly hope she bounces back quickly from the hard fall she took during today's game.)
After 3 games in 4 days, the nine Mystics still healthy enough to play have little time to rest as they face the always tough Indiana Fever at the Phone Booth on Tuesday . . . 4 games in 6 days! It'll take another team effort to beat Tamika Catchings & Company . . . let's hope the Mystics can maintain their home-momentum and get an important in-conference win.
Go Mystics . . . Beat Indy!
Photo Credit: DC BasketCases
posted by BasketCases @ 8:23 PM
16 comments
16 Comments:
Huge win today. Lang just continues to be amazing. We need others to consistently step up. Would would coach plank play her bench more when they don't add anything? I definitely don't agree with the earlier poster. Coach plays her bench to give a breather not to make things happen. You have to realize coming into the season we thought we would have some with AB.
Lang has to be player of the week and make the all star team! Great team win! Harding should make the all star team too. Still wish marissa would get some minutes. She is playing well when she is in. Why isn't the coach playing her more?
What a great game! After we got back, we watched the Live Access game over again (to re-watch some of the highlights), and I wish they had said this at Verizon Center:
Katie got her 1000th assist early on in the game
Lindsay got her 1000th point during the game too
Great job by everybody!
I also wish Marissa would get more time, I think she's got to feel even more pressure, but she still did well with the minutes that she had.
We went to our first Chalk Talk before the game - very cool!
Now for a win on Tuesday too!
I agree with the previous comment- I wish Marissa would get more time- she's in there a few - and like in Chicago, she's doing well, getting in a rhythm and BAM, Plank yanks her out! WTF! She is coming so close to getting her groove and Plank is killin me not lettin her get some time.
I'm thinking C-Lang should be a candidate for Most Improved Player... AGAIN. Back to back years, she continues to elevate her game!
Why is that I wonder? Plank keeps pulling marissa too soon lately when she has been in a groove. I guess it's like someone else said. She plays 5 and chas. The rest are just there to give the starters a quick rest.
Gongrfatulatgions to the Mystics! Great win.
Congratulations to Katie and to Lindsey!
GO MYSTICS!
GO DCBC!
Just came across a Washington Post article about the game last night.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/mystics-insider/2010/06/mystics_95_mercury_85.html
I'm so appreciative that the Post writes about the Mystics. The Baltimore Sun barely covers them or the rest of the WNBA.
"She [Harding] and Langhorne combined have accounted for 136 of Washington's total 235 points" in the last 3 games.
Wow!!
Did anyone notice that today's print edition of the Post noted that the Mystics won their fourth game in a row?
Lang and Lindsay...all stars!
We need Mo to return to early season dominating performances. Nice to see Marissa starting to return to form. We need both of them to compete for post season success.
Lindsey & Lang are doing great! Nakia is contributing great post defense all the time and offense some of the time. Chas Melvin is fairly consistently adding good boards plus offense. Katie Smith continues to help everyone elevate their game as play in unison with each other.
I, too hope Taurasi is OK. Still no word.
I heard Dee had a bruised back and is day-to-day.
I have noticed Coleman typically gets yanked when someone goes past her when she is trying to play defense, so I can only imagine that is what is limiting her playing time.
She made one defensive error and gets yanked? That's crazy if true. Bonner blew passed Mo also at least once. Marissa is playing good D for the most part. I have actually been impressed with that part of her game. mD wasn't know for playing good D.
Crystal needs more help from the post players. I think Laura Harper is still available. Lang and Harp together again :-).
I think the post is playing pretty good overall this year. Harp is hurt that's why she isn't playing. Coleman....NEEDS MORE MINUTES!!
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